Bike fell over now right crank arm strikes chain guard when pedalling.

[Wozza2014]

Hi.

I have an old Raleigh Chiltern which I love dearly. Unfortunately it was on the kick stand and fell over onto its right hand side. Now when I pedal the right crack arm grazes the chain guard ever so slightly.

I am new to bikes and don't know the best way to proceed with it. The bike uses the old cotter pin to attach the cranks. Now I was wondering could I slightly move the right crank arm away from the frame by a few mm then tighten it back up?

I bought the bike a year ago off a really nice fella and he is usually at hand to give me advice but for some reason I can't get through to him (he may be on holiday), but I would really like to tackle this myself and possibly fix it.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

Unless the cotter was a bit loose I can't think that a fall would bend the crank. I should imagine a certain amount of over engineering in an old Raleigh! Could the chain guard have moved slightly? Seems more likely. Welcome by the way!

Does it feel any different in the pedalling department?

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

Unless the cotter was a bit loose I can't think that a fall would bend the crank. I should imagine a certain amount of over engineering in an old Raleigh! Could the chain guard have moved slightly? Seems more likely. Welcome by the way!

Does it feel any different in the pedalling department?

My first thought also was the chain guard. Cranks are nearly always too solid to get out of place.

 

[Brommyboy]

I once had this happen and the crank was straightened for me by the local blacksmith, back in the 60's. Being steel, the crank can be fixed after removal from the bike.

 

[snorri]

Turn the pedal round until it comes to the point where the crank makes contact with the chain guard. Now apply pressure on the chain guard at the contact point and try to bend the guard away from the crank.

 

[KneesUp]

It may be bent. Mymum had a Raleigh Twenty and complained of a sore knee. Turned out the bike had a bent crank from falling over. They are easy tochangeonce you havthepart

 

[Wozza2014]

Hi.

Thanks for the kind welcome and comments.

I will pull the bike out today and see if the chain guard can be move slightly. It feels fine to pedal but makes a noise against the guard and I don't want to use it just in case the paint from the guard starts to wear away.

I'd be gutted if the crank was bent, but it did take a fair old tumble. The pavement was sloped and it was dark and then it went 'crash'. I'm a bit gutted because I feel lost without my bike now. I just want to get it fixed ASAP so I can get back on the open road!

 

[Wozza2014]

Hi.

Low and behold everything seems fine again with the bike. I took my bike out yesterday and shopping today and everything seemed hunky dory. All I did was push the chain guard slightly (but even then I don't think it really did anything because it wasn't loose). The crank arm is very very close to mud guard when I pedal. I think it has always been like this TBH.



This has taught me one thing though - that when my bike is out of action I dearly miss it. So I am going to give the bike an over due spring clean that will involve cleaning the chain, sprockets, external Sturmey Archer clean and lube, disassemble the calliper brakes and clean off the rust, new brake pads and total frame clean. Having never done any serious work on a bike before this will be quite a baptism of fire this coming weekend. God love Youtube and Google.

Thanks for you help everyone and wish me luck.

P.S. Here she is

 

[alicat]

Nice bike. Looks like the saddle was knocked at the same time, however.

 

[further]

Mine,lovely bikes,glad yours is ok

 

[Drago]

Those old steel cottered cranks bend a lot easier than the forged alloy jobs from the likes of Shimano.